"2) Can natural processes produce an increase in complexity?Podarcis sicula, a Croatian lizard, evolved differences in head morphology, bite strength, and digestive tract structure in a very, very short period of time: 36 years! In about 30 generations the lizards evolved larger heads, stronger bites, and cecal valves - a structure in the gut that can constrict, slowing down the passage of food, giving more time for digestion. Behaviorally the lizards changed their diet to include much more plant material, and the morphological changes were adaptations to this new lifestyle. Clearly the lizards became a new species, as they moved into a new niche, and increased the information in their genome about the new environment. Thus evolution increased the complexity of these lizards. [Herrel et al. (2008), PNAS, 105 (12).]

A note on complexity: That this term is undefined when used by creationists makes it possible for them to reject any example given to them of complexity increasing. Requiring them to define it will make it possible to give an example that is more likely to persuade some of them (or just the fence-sitters). Here I have used one definition that is actually quantitative, namely that the more information the genome contains about the environment, the more complex it is."

So here's more losing: you helped write an NSF proposal to investigate sympatric speciation, but it was rejected. Given that some reviewers professed that they really didn't know much about speciation, I'm not beating myself up too much. (But it will be resubmitted this Friday). BUT here's the good news for you. EVERYONE loved the "Speciator". (An educational software that Bjorn designed in theory). So there. And you forgot to mention that your NK paper will be accepted (once we send in our changes).

Here's my way of dealing with setbacks: While I can make mistakes, I know I'm good. If you keep at it, and don't give up, you will prevail. Plenty of good people have given up, I simply refuse to be among them. Onward we go, come hell or high water.

Pleiotropy comes from the Greek πλείων pleion, meaning "more", and τρέπειν trepein, meaning "to turn, to convert". It designates the occurrence of a single gene affecting multiple traits, and is a hugely important concept in evolutionary biology.

I'm a postdoc at UC Santa Barbara.

All Many aspects of evolution interest me, but my research focus is currently on microbial evolution, adaptive radiation, speciation, fitness landscapes, epistasis, and the influence of genetic architecture on adaptation and speciation.